The last time Malcolm Butler was in the news he was busy sealing the New England Patriots' Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks with a last-minute interception.
Apparently, past accomplishments don't earn you any leeway with Patriots Coach Bill Belichick.
According to the Boston Herald, Butler was late to the first day of voluntary offseason team activities on May 26 because of a weather-related travel delay. Despite informing the team of his late arrival, the Patriots decided to punish him.
"Fine, hold him out for a day to drive home the importance of arriving on time for 'voluntary' workouts," Kevin Draper of CBSSports.com wrote. "But of course it's not that simple, because this is Bill Belichick, whose controlling mania would make Cinderella's stepmother blush."
Butler hasn't been allowed on the practice field for the past two weeks. He still voluntarily arrived at the Patriots facility every day to attend workouts and meetings, but he wasn't allowed on the field to practice like the rest of his teammates.
Because the Patriots seem to like being in hot water with the league, NFL.com writer Albert Breer reported that the NFL Players Association is investigating whether or not the team violated the collective bargaining agreement when it punished Butler.
The first portion of Article 21, Section 5(a) specifically states, "No Club official may indicate to a player that the Club's offseason workout program or classroom instruction is not voluntary [or that a player's failure to participate in a workout program or classroom instruction will result in the player's failure to make the Club or result in any other adverse consequences affecting his working conditions]."
"It is hard to tell if Butler and the NFLPA actually have a case here -- since the OTAs are indeed 'voluntary.' It could be argued that being held out of them isn't actually an adverse consequence, but one thing is clear: Bill Belichick is not to be trifled with," Draper wrote.
For the love of rugby
Rugby player Georgia Page of Lindenwood University did something she hopes will raise the profile of the sport, but she did so without thinking about it.
Playing in the Collegiate Rugby Championship against Notre Dame, Page had blood pouring down her face after breaking her nose while making a tackle.
Moments later, she made another big tackle, and it was only then that the referee noticed Page's injury and ordered her off the field. She returned in the second half and led Lindenwood to a 24-17 victory.
"Sevens [seven to a side] goes so fast that you really don't have time to think about anything," Page told foxsports.com.au. "I literally laid down for two seconds and thought, 'I've got to get up, got to get up.' Then I just started running back and when I had to make that first tackle, I couldn't see out of one of my eyes because it was covered in blood. It was pretty intense but then the pain was gone after that. I finished the game and I had to play the next day."
Sports quiz
Where did Malcolm Butler play college football?
Answer
After starting at a community college and playing one year at Alcorn State, Butler played two seasons at West Alabama.
Sports on 06/12/2015